Presidents of
Tennessee
Andrew Jackson 1829-1837
Compiled by:
Terry Sams,
Dandridge, Tennessee
James Polk 1845-1849
Andrew Johnson 1865-1869
Andrew Jackson
Lawyer, great military hero of his
day, and the “people’s president”the first whose origins were
humble
Andrew Jackson – born Waxhaw,
SC, March 15, 1767
Nickname: "Old Hickory"
7th President of the United States
(1829-1837)
Personal Information
Religion: Presbyterian
Marriage: August 1791 (2nd
ceremony, January 17, 1794),
to Rachel Donelson Robards
(1767-1828)
Political Party: Democrat
Career: Lawyer, Soldier
Died: June 8, 1845, Nashville, Tennessee
Buried: The Hermitage, Nashville,
Tennessee
Mrs. Rachel Donelson
Jackson
Jackson married Rachel twice because
her divorce from her first husband had not been finalized
in time for the first wedding to be legal. As a deeply
religious person, Rachel was often hurt over accusations
his opponents often brought up during campaigns. She
died within three months before his inauguration of an
apparent heart attack. Jackson always believed that it
had been gossip and rumors about their marriage that led
to Rachel’s death. At his inauguration, he wore a top hat
with a wide, black mourning band to symbolize his loss
and grief.
Jackson grieved for Rachel the
rest of his life. They never had
children of their own but had
adopted Rachel’s nephew and
raised several other children
whose parents could not take care of
them. He also adopted an Indian boy,
Lyncoya, whose family was
killed during a war with Creek
Indians in 1813. Lyncoya died in
1828.
Other Interesting Facts
It was believed he would be the most likely
president to die in office (he didn’t), because he
was in constant pain, had terrible headaches,
stomachaches and a hacking cough.
He was the first president to be the victim of an
assassination attempt.
The only president ever to kill a man in a duel
(fought over Rachel’s honor).
The only president to have been a prisoner of
war (during the American Revolution).
The most controversial thing he ever did was to
order all Native Americans moved west in what
is known as the Trail of Tears.
To his friends, Jackson was
always loyal and generous. To
his enemies (especially anyone
he held responsible for the
rumors against Rachel), he was
mean and spiteful.
He died at the age of seventyeight, probably of heart failure,
and was buried next to Rachel in
the Hermitage garden.
Andrew Jackson left a
permanent imprint upon American
politics and the presidency. The
Democratic party was Jackson's
child; the national two-party
system was his legacy.
Primary Sources
A primary source is a document that was created
during the time period being examined.
The most common primary sources are personal
letters, diaries, journals, newspaper articles, and
business records and correspondence.
Transcribed oral histories of witnesses to
particular events or individuals alive during a
given time period are also primary source
documents, even though they may have been
transcribed years later.
Let’s look at three primary
sources from Andrew Jackson time.
Notice the dates they were written,
who the letter was written to, and the
tone of the document. Does the tone
tell you anything about the writer’s
mood and/or attitude? Does the
document tell you about the
relationship between the writer and
the person it was sent?
Excerpts from Personal Letters of
Andrew Jackson
To John Sevier – Knoxville, October 2, 1803
Sir
The ungentlemany Expressions, and gasgonading conduct, of yours
relative to me on yesterday was in true character of yourself, and
unmask you to the world, and plainly shews that they were the
ebulutions of a base mind goaded with stubborn prooffs of fraud, and
flowing from a source devoid of every refined sentiment, or delicate
sensation. But sir the Voice of the people has made you a Governor this
alone makes you worthy of my notice or notice of any Gentleman.
. . .for this purpose I request an interview, and my friend who will hand
you this will point out the time and place, when and where I shall Expect
to see you with your friend and no other person. my friend and myself
will be armed with pistols. you cannot mistake me, or my meaning.
Andrew Jackson
Jackson and Sevier met by chance in front of the Knox County
courthouse and exchanged insults, prompting Jackson’s challenge. (The
spelling errors are in Jackson’s original manuscript)
Excerpts from Personal Letters of
Andrew Jackson
To Mrs. Jackson – January 18, 1813
My Love: I have this evening since dark received your
affectionate letter by Dinwiddie. I was down at the boat
receiving the arms just arrived, and did not get up until
dark, when I found the old man waiting for me. He has
carefully handed me your miniature. I shall wear it near
my bosom; but this was useless for without your
miniature my recollection never fails me of your
likeness….
It is now 1 o’clock in the morning-the candle nearly out,
and I must go to bed. May the angelic hosts that reward
and protect virtue and innocence and preserve the good
be with you until I return, is the sincere supplication of
your affectionate husband.
This letter was sent when Jackson was campaigning against the Creeks
Excerpts from Personal Letters of
Andrew Jackson
Mrs. Jackson to Jackson – January 1813
My Dear Husband: Your letter of the 18th of January from the mouth
of the Cumberland river came safe to hand. It was everything to me.
I rejoiced. I was happy to hear you were in health. It was my nightly
prayer to Almighty God. My thoughts are forever on thee. Where’er I
go, where’er I turn, my thoughts, my fears, my doubts distress me.
Then a little hope revives again and that keeps me alive. Were it not
for that, I must sink; I should die in my present situation. By my
blessed Redeemer is making intercession with the Father for us to
meet again, to restore you to my bosom, where every vein, every
pulse beats high for your health, your safety, and all your wishes
crowned. Do not, my beloved husband let the love of country, fame
and honor, make you forget you have one. Without you, I would think
them all empty shadows. You will say this is not the language of a
patriot, but it is the language of a faithful wife. . .
More about Andrew Jackson
Read About Jackson’s Duels
Biography of Andrew Jackson
Biography of Mrs. Jackson
Visit Jackson’s home, The Hermitage
Read about The Early 19th Century in
America
The Hermitage,
Nashville, Tennessee
Jackson’s tomb
Jackson Statue
Nashville, Tennessee
James K. Polk
Often referred to as the first
“dark horse" President, Polk
was the last of the Jacksonians
to sit in the White House, and
the last strong President until
the Civil War.
Born: November 2, 1795, Mecklenburg County,
North Carolina
Nickname: "Young Hickory“
11th President of the United States (1845-1849)
Personal Information
Religion: Presbyterian
Education: University of North
Carolina (graduated 1818)
Marriage: January 1, 1824, to
Sarah Childress (1803-91)
Political Party: Democrat
Career: Lawyer
Children: None
Died: June 15, 1849, Nashville, Tennessee
Buried: State Capitol Grounds, Nashville,
Tennessee
Mrs. Sarah Childress Polk (1803-91)
Blessed with an education most women of her
day were denied, Sarah was well prepared to
serve, not only as White House hostess, but also
her husband’s private secretary. She worked
long hours each day at his
side. She help write speeches,
correspondence, and advised
him on many matters of state.
Sarah continued to manage the
Mississippi plantation and other
property and enjoyed the role of
grande dame for almost a half a
century after his death.
Mrs. Sarah Childress Polk (1803-91)
To watch the video Sarah Polk's
White House, click the following
link:
Windows Media Player Format
Interesting Facts
His campaign and administration were
focused on westward expansion – fulfilling
the “Manifest Destiny” of the growing
nation.
President Polk added a vast area
to the United States, but its
acquisition precipitated a bitter quarrel
between the North and the South over
expansion of slavery.
Other Interesting Facts
At 49, Polk was the youngest man
yet to be elected to the office.
Polk, leaving office with his health
undermined from hard work,
died in June 1849.
His inaugural address
printed in the newspaper
hangs in his home.
From James Polk’s Inaugural
Address – March 4, 1845
Without solicitation on my part, I have been
chosen by the free and voluntary suffrages of
my countrymen to the most honorable and most
responsible office on earth. I am deeply
impressed with gratitude for the confidence
reposed in me. Honored with this
distinguished consideration at an
earlier period of life than any of my
predecessors, I can not disguise
the diffidence with which I am about
to enter on the discharge of my
official duties.
More about James K. Polk
Polk’s Inaugural Address
Biography of James K. Polk
Biography of Mrs. Polk
James Polk and Texas
James Polk and the Westward
Expansion
Andrew Johnson
The only president
who knew how to quilt and
made his own suits (a skill
of which he was very
proud).
Born: December 29, 1808, Raleigh, North
Carolina
Nickname: None
17th President of the United States
(1865-1869)
Personal Information
Religion: No formal affiliation
Marriage: May 17, 1827, to Eliza McCardle
(1810-1876)
Children: Martha Johnson (1828-1901), Charles
Johnson (1830-1863), Mary Johnson (1832-1883),
Robert Johnson (1834-1869), Andrew Johnson
(1852-1879)
Political Party: Democrat; Unionist
Career: Tailor; Public Official
Died: Carter’s Station, Tennessee, 1875
Buried: Greeneville, Tennessee
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was born in
Raleigh, North Carolina.
His father died when young Johnson was
only three years old, and he was raised by
his mother who worked as a spinner and
weaver to support her sons.
Johnson worked as a tailor’s apprentice
from the age of 14, then opened his own
shop in 1827 after his family moved to
Greeneville, Tennessee.
Mrs. Eliza McCardle Johnson (1810-1876)
Eliza was the First Lady married at the youngest agesixteen.
Eliza taught her half literate husband to read and write.
She read to him from books and government documents
as he sewed.
Suffering from poor heath and with little desire to entertain,
Eliza spent most of her time in her room surrounded by
her large family of children and grandchildren. Her
daughter, Martha Johnson Patterson, took up most of the
duties of First Lady sensibly and graciously, even during
the difficult times of her father’s term.
Twice a day he stopped in to go over current events with
her.
At night she showed him articles favorable to him, but
saved the negative ones for the morning so he wouldn’t
lose sleep.
When the Civil War began, Johnson
was the only Senator from a Confederate
state who did not leave Congress to
return to the South.
In 1864, Lincoln selected him as
his Vice Presidential running-mate
on the National Union ticket.
Within six weeks of taking office as Vice
President, Johnson succeeded to the
Presidency after Lincoln’s assassination.
In the troubled years after the Civil War, he
became so unpopular that he was the only
president to be impeached, but not
convicted by only one vote.
Interesting Facts about Andrew Johnson
He appeared cold-White House staff labeled him
“the Grim Presence” – but he loaned money to
those in need and identified with underdogs.
Instead of evicting mice he found inside, he would
leave flour and water out for them.
Johnson unsuccessfully sought the Democratic
party’s presidential nomination in 1868.
Finally in 1875, an alliance of Republicans and a
faction of the Democratic party in the
Tennessee legislature again elected
him to the U.S. Senate.
He served only five months before
he died of a stroke at age sixty-six.
More about Andrew Johnson
Impeachment
Inaugural Address of Andrew Johnson
Biography of Mrs. Johnson
More on Andrew Johnson at
Tusculum College
Sources
Lives of the Presidents – Kathleen Krull, Scholastic Inc., New York, 1998
Tennessee’s Presidents, Frank B. Williams, Jr. The Tennessee Historical
Commission, The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, 1981
Andrew Johnson Statue
The writing on some
of the slides is too
small for classroom
presentations. You
could easily make two
separate slides on
some of these and
increase the fonts.